I’m not must of a drinker myself, but for those who shun Paleo because of the mere idea of not indulging…here ya go. If you need a better look at the alcohol sheet, click here : https://infertilitythouartaheartlessbitch.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/paleo-and-alcohol-if-you-just-cannot-give-it-up/

PHOTO GUIDE TO PALEO STAPLES–GET STARTED!

Tapioca flour is a steal at asian markets. This pack was 50 cents. The Bob’s pack was $4.00.

Coconut milk can be found in many stores. If you want “light” then Trader Joe’s may be your best bet. Asian markets have many brands as well. Coconut milk is frequently used in paleo baking and sauces.

Coconut cream can be found in many stores. Asian markets or Trader Joe’s are guaranteed carriers. Coconut cream is frequently used in paleo sweets.

Always look for RAW AND ORGANIC when choosing a honey.

Palm shortening is mentioned in many recipes in the “Against All Grain” book.

Avocado Oil (great for baking and sautéing)

Coconut Oil (great for any kind of paleo cooking or baking)

Organic Tomato Paste

Ghee can be found in the refrigerated section and also the baking aisle Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have ghee.

Paleo people love fermented foods!

Tamari is NOT paleo, but is better than regular soy sauce that contains gluten. Some use Coconut Aminos (found in the soy sauce aisle). These packets are invaluable if you’re going out to dinner. Throw some in your pockets for a sashimi outing.

Almond milk. Also found at Target. READ THE LABELS! Make sure there aren’t a lot of other added ingredients.

Always get uncured items for bacon or sausage to avoid added nitrates.

This is the kind of sausage you should get for items such as the Sweet Potato hash that call for pork sausage. You can season your own ground sausage if you have time, but that is not always possible.

In the baking aisle (some Whole Foods have it as a self serve item in the baking aisle). Used as a thickening agent in lieu of cornstarch.

This Almond Meal/Flour isn’t as fine as some recipes call for, but will always be acceptable. I had to order actual Almond Flour online. This will often be used in baking.

Also used in paleo baking. It will have a coconut flavor.

Used in some baking recipes that are chocolatey.

Only 13g of sugar in the entire thing!

Also found at Target. Used in lots of my baking recipes.

Always buy GRADE B! It is not processed as Grade A is. Also found at Trader Joe’s.

Make sure to buy raw with no added ingredients. It is not cheap, so use it wisely.

This one is a bit controversial, so do your homework and then decide if it’s for you. See the note above about finding it in asian markets.

Found! The ever elusive Coconut Aminos! I don’t love it with sashimi, but I think it work in asian sauces.

Why can’t I have it??? It seems like it would be paleo.

I thought I’d start a post giving the reasons why we cannot have things that “seem” like they would be paleo. I will be continuously adding to this list as the questions come up.

Peanuts: you cannot have the because they are legumes. You cannot have legumes because they induce a big glycemic response, have harmful phytic acid and lectins, and they give a lot of people gas.

Dairy: It wasn’t very practical to milk wild game in the paleolithic era. Many people have an intolerance or reaction to casein. It is highly insulin promoting. Grain-fed cows will produce a milk much higher in omega-6 fatty acids and lower in omega-3 fatty acids, which, in the long-term, will trigger inflammation which is something you want to limit for good health.

Agave: It is highly processed.

Corn: It is a grain, not a vegetable.

Hummus: It is made of chickpeas, which are legumes.

Soy (from Living Paleo):Soy has high levels of lectins and phytates. Lectins can interfere with how your brain responds to hunger signals, which means lectins can trigger your brain to tell your body its hungry, even when you’ve consumed an adequate amount of calories. Phytates are substances that bind to minerals, such as zinc, calcium and iron, thus making them unavailable to your body for use. Diets which are high in phytates have been shown to reduce growth in children.Research has also shown that soy has trypsin inhibitors that can interfere with the digestion of protein that can lead to pancreatic problems. In addition to trypsion inhibitors, soy has phytoestrogens which interfere with endocrine function and can lead to infertility and an increased risk of breast cancer in adult women.Consumption of soy can lead to problems in the body’s absorption of certain vitamins, as well. The analog version of B12 that is found in soy is not absorbed by the human body, and actually increases the body’s need for B12. In addition to increased need for B12, consumption of soy increases the body’s need for Vitamin D, which can lead to a potential deficiency of the vitamin.The way soy is processed can lead to high levels of toxicity. For example, during the processing of soy protein, toxic lysinoalaine and carcinogenic nitrosamines are formed. Foods with soy also contain high levels of aluminum, which is highly toxic when consumed by humans.Consumption of soy can also lead to thyroid problems. Soy contains large amounts of goitrogens, which are compounds that can inhibit the body’s ability to process iodine correctly, and this can lead to hypothyroid problems. Hypothyroid problems have become commonplace today, and problems with your thyroid can lead to decreased energy levels, a slowdown in metabolism and a weakened immune system.

These aren’t the only foods that one can consume on this way of eating. Between my intake of salmon, almonds, leafy greens, and several other non-dairy or legume sources, I easily meet the recommended daily goals for calcium. It just takes a bit of research to find that there are many other options available that conform to the paleo way of eating.